Method of and apparatus for compressing shank-stiffeners



(No Model.)

I 2 Sheets-Sheet l. J. M. WATSON.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR GOMPRESSING SHANK STIPFENER SL Patented Aug. 2, 1887'.

N. PETERS. Pholvlilhagrnphur. Washington, Dv C4 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. M. WATSON. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR GOMPRESSING SHANK STIPFENERS.

Patented Aug. 2, 1887.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JEREMIAH M. \VATSON, OF SHARON, MASSACHUSETTS.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSlNG SHANK-STlFFENERSr SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,!84, dated August 2, 1887.

Application filed March 10, 1887.

To all whom it 11mg concern.-

- lllassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Method of and Apparatus for Compressing Shank-Stifieners, of which the fol lowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representinglike parts.

Shank-stiffeners as now commonly made are .cut from leather or leather-board or equivalent material, so as to leave beveled edges; but previous to applying the same to a boot or shoe it is customary to somewhat shave off or curve the beveled edges at each side of the stiffener, and also to impart a longitudinal curve to the stiffener. I

This invention has for its object to devise a method of and apparatus for rounding ofi' or curving the beveled edges of the shank-stiffeners, and also to give to the same a longitudinal curve before applying the same to a last or shoe.

In carrying out this invention a shank-stiffenerofsuitableshape cut fromasheetofleatherboard or other material, so as to leave its sides and one end to present beveled edges, the bevel of the edges occupying such relation to the plain surface of the material as to form obtuse-angled corners,and thereafter the blank so formed is subjected to the action of compressing or die rollers, one of which is cut away or recessed to conform in cross-section to the shape it is desired to give to the stiffener, the second roll acting to force the stiffener intothe said recessed or cutaway part of the other roller, so as to cause the said beveled edges and obtuse-angled corners to be broken down into a round or curve, as will be de scribed.

The machine herein shown has two rotating die or compressing rollers, combined with feeding devices for feeding the shank-stiffeners to the die or compressing rollers.

The parts are all preferably made adj nstable, and if desired for differentsized shankstiffeners the recessed roller may be removed and another substituted for it having a recess of a different size or shape.

Figure 1 in top view shows a machine espe Serial No. 230,358. (No model.)

cially designed for rounding off or curving the beveled edges of shankstiffeners in carry ing out this invention; Fig. 2, aside elevation and partial section on the dotted line a; :0,-

Figs. 3, 4t, and 5, top and sectional views of a shank-stiffener previous to having its beveled edges compressed; Figs. 6, 7, and 8, similar top and sectional views after the beveled edges (see Fig. 1) directly beneath it, and fixed to a shaft, 1), extending parallel with the shaft b. A die or compressing roller, 0, is secured to the shaft 1), as by a spline, said die'roller having its periphery or acting face cut away or recessed to conform to the shape in cross-section which it is desired to give to the complete shankstiifener. The die-roller secured to the shaft 6, and havinga plain face, acts against one side of the stiffener and forces it into the recessed portion of the die-roller c as the stiffener is passed between the said rollers.

A support or table, 0, fastened to the upper side of the frame or bed a, serves as a feed ing-support, over which the shankstiifoners are fed to enter between the rollers.

The feeding device consists of a feeding finger adjustably secured to a slidebar, f, by

screw-studs 2, the slide-bar moving between.

the guide-blocksf". The slide-barf is moved to and fro by a lever, f pivoted toa stud, f, said lever f being moved in one direction by a slide-bar, 20, held in guides 40, the bar being acted upon by a cam, m, fast on shaft 15*, (see dotted lines Fig. 2,) the face of which strikes against one end of the said slide-bar, the slidebar being moved in the opposite direction by a weight, 10, connected with the lever f by a cord, 10, which passes over a roller or pulley, w". A spring might be used to retain the bar 20,

5 a single plate of metal, is adj ustably secured to the edge of the table by a bolt, 25, said guide acting against one edge of the stiffener, two yielding guides, g 9 secured to the edge of the table bearing against the other edge of re the stiffener, to thereby accurately guide the stiffener to the die or compressing rollers. A spring-presser, p, is located at the entrance of the die-rollers to hold the stiffener down upon the table when moved forward by the I feeding device.

The lifting plate or device t, located at the rear side of the die-rollers, aids in delivering the shank'stiffener from the rolls in such manner to retain the curve given to it by its passage between the rollers.

In operation, the shank-sti ffener is cut to the desired shape, and with its side edges and one end properly skivcd or beveled, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, to leave beveled sides and obtusc angled corners between the beveled portions and the plain surface of the material, is fed between the die or compressing-rollers 0d, and, as the stiffener passes between the rollers and is forced into the recessed portion of the roller 0, the beveled side edges are rounded off or curved in erosssection, as shown in Fig. 8, and the stiffener is also gradually curved longitudinally as shown in Fig. 7, to thereby form an article ready for use without 3 5 necessitating further manipulation.

0 ener.

I claim- 1. In a machine for compressing shankstiffencrs, two rotating die or compressing rollers, the meeting faces of which are formed 5 to present a recess having one straight and one curved face or side,to thereby curve transversely one face of the stiffener, combined with means for rotating the said die-rollers, and a liftingplate to assist in curving the said shank longitudinally, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for compressing shankst iffeners, two die or compressing rollers, one of which is provided with a recess having a curved edge or margin,'and the other with a plain surface, and means for rotating the said die or compressing rollers, combined with feeding devices and with means for automatically actuating the same to feed the shankstiffeners between the said die-rollers, substantially as described.

3. In a machine for compressing shankstiffeners, two rotating die-rollers, the face of one of which is provided with a recess having a curved edge or margin, and the face of the other of which is plain, combined with a slidebar, f, an adjustable finger or device thereon to act upon and feed the shanlgand with means, substantially as described, to operate the said slide-bar, as set forth.

4. In a machine for compressing shankstiffeners,two rotating die-rollers,one of which is provided with a recess having a curved edge or margin and the other a plain surface, and a feeding device, combined with adjustable guides for accurately guiding the shanlcstiffeners forward to enter between said rollers, substantially as described.

5. In a machine for compressing shankstiffeners, the die-rollers and means for rotating them, and the adjustable feeding devices, combined with the adjustable guide, substantially as described.

6. Thehereiirdescribed method of finishing the edges of shank-stiffeners, which consists in cutting out a blank from a sheet of material, leaving the same with beveled edges and obtuse angled corners, and thereafter passing the same between rollers having dies with rounded edges or margins in order to round the obtuse angles and beveled portions as cut, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BERNICE J. N OYES, F. L. EMERY. 

